Archive for April 2011

Local First Saves! yet again

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 –


So...I love Pottery Barn as much as the next person! I get lots of inspiration from them! However, today...while perusing their website, fell into the floor, when I saw something 99% like we're selling here in the store, for 8x the price!
Tied vintage books! I mean....if you've been in, you know we love books, and we love groupings of them tied together! So much so, we started selling them in the store a few weeks ago. FOR $5 A STACK.
Pottery Barn is selling them for $39 a bundle!
Now in all fairness, their books are glued shut, our pages are still free, so you could actually untie and read the book if you would like! What a thought, lol! If it was that important to have them glued shut, I would get out the Elmers! Local first saves!

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A boy can dream.....part 2



So, as I wonder through kitchen after kitchen for divine inspiration... I had to share! First I have to admit, that no... I am not a really good cook. I actually hate to cook, the idea of dirtying up dishes only to have to wash them too...well, it's not high on my priority list. LOL. HOWEVER, if you have a kitchen like any of these....how do you NOT cook!

I simply adore coffered ceilings...and then put that with tongue and groove! OH...i'm in the floor! The only way to even take this a little more over the edge is to paint it the haint blue color! In case you don't know anything about "haint" blue, in southern areas like Savannah, Charleston, etc, people painted their ceilings on their porches this color because it would keep evil spirits away! Totally adorable.
As you'll notice, I'm also fascinated with white cabinetry. There is just something about the crispness that I could eat!
In the next image, again we have a coffered ceiling with the tongue and groove yet again, but I love how they placed the lights and the intersection of the coffered panels. I love how the lines take your eyes to the beautiful stackstone fireplace! What a wonderful hearthroom!
Aside from that, can we discuss all the windows and french doors with transoms! Of course, you would have to have a back yard to look at....but I would be fine looking at weeds if my kitchen/hearthroom looked like that!
When it comes to cabinets, I like Shaker style doors. The simpler the better! I would rather have fab handles or pulls!
But of course we also can't forget about the sink!
There'll be no stainless steel sink for me@! OH NO!!!

Look at these porcelain apron sinks! OH......once again I'm in the floor!

What I also love about these sinks, is that they actually look like they are a part of a piece of furniture! Look at those "turned leg" details! Edible I tell you! Also note the silver pulls. I simply love those! I have those in my kitchen now, but they just don't look as good as these!

Last, but NOT LEAST. There is so much about this last kitchen I don't know where to start! I love EVERYTHING about this one! I love the classic detail with modern details! The bar stools are part of my favorite details. A modern take on a vintage look! The one thing I'm a little concerned about though is....do you really need two islands? I mean...as little as I cook....I don't even think I would use 1 to it's fullest purpose!

Regardless, I guess I can dream of kitchens to be had. Poor Maxine (my realtor)...you have your work set out for you! :)

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Concepts In Construction - Sun Shading

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 –

Sun shading refers to the various ways in which direct sunlight is kept out of spaces in the building. This is especially necessary in high rise buildings where direct sunlight gets into the building through windows. The following are ways in which this problem is tackled:



· Built Solutions: These are sun shading solutions that are built as part of the building. Examples here include:
o Cantilever balconies: Although balconies are meant to be used as external spaces, they are at times designed to offer a supplementary duty of offering shade from the sun on windows on lower floors. This can be enhanced by designing the balconies with a downstand beam for better shading.
o Glazing films & Solar glazing: Since most windows are infilled in glazing, it works best to target these when sun shading is being considered. This is either done by the use of glass with sun diverting or absorbing capabilities or by covering such glazing with solar film, whether reflective or absorptive.
o Curtain walls: A curtain wall can simply be defined as a supplementary wall, usually decorative and covering the main functional walls. They are usually made of glass and the above mentioned glazing solutions apply.
o Hanging sun shades: these are various solutions whereby elements like wood, steel or concrete pieces are hang above windows, whether in louvers or full pieces.
o False roofs / eaves: These are small roof-like structures butting into walls and aimed at covering windows below them in a bid to shade them from direct sunlight.
· Furnitures: These are items input in the building after it is complete in a bid to enhance their sun shading capabilities. They include the following:
o Blinds: these are usually in the form of light clothing. They are in most cases done in two layers of different weights.
o Louvres: these are many small pieces, either going horizontally or vertically that can be tilted in a bid to divert or avert sun rays. Louvers are either made of clothe, timber, PVC, aluminium and so forth.
The best and cost effective solution is however by designing the building in such a way that it will require little or no sun shading. This is usually done by orientating the building in such a way that windows are directed against the sun's path, thus ensuring that no sunlight gets in the building through windows. Sun shading will ensure comfortable spaces by reducing sun distraction as well as heat.


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Who's Shady?

Friday, April 22, 2011 –





A few weeks ago on my Kentucky Monthly Blog "Homegrown Design", I discussed how you can start to update your space by changing out lamps! Well, here's another alternative...CHANGE OUT THE SHADE!.....to BURLAP
Seen to the left is an image from Pottery Barn, the lamp is beautiful, however it's also $250+. However you can just switch out the shades and creat the same looks on lamps that you have in your house FOR A TON LESS!


We just got in burlap drum shades in different sizes, includes chandelier size! They are a must buy for the value! Come and see us!
UPDATE: The chandelier size shades have already SOLD OUT today! That's right...we got them this morning! We can and WILL reorder, if interested, please contact the guys at the store @ 859.523.3933

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Thank Goodness, at last!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 –




Thank Goodness, i made it!





The journey was long,
 The tire strong,
And the challenge stiff!


But the fire blazed wild,
The urge to show the world,
Am not just bluff!

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You Can Do It!




A while back a wonderful customer, Nancy Thomas, emailed me this image of what she had created at her front door! She simply filled a standing basket with tree limbs and bark, nestled in some fern, and then finished it off with several nest with eggs! How great is this!




This is a great example of how simple can be beautiful! See you really can do it! If you've created something at home and would like to "show it off", please feel free to email images to jeremy at jeremy@jsd-designs, or if you're on Facebook, you can post them there!

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Floral Eggstravaganza

Monday, April 18, 2011 –

I am simply loving all of the flowers that are popping up in everybody's yard! I almost wept when I realized that Granny's Flowering Almond had finished blooming for the year, but fortunately for me, her beautiful pink dogwood is completely brilliant right now! I thought I would share some florals that have inspired me for Spring! Maybe you could even use them for your Easter tables this weekend. And don't forget, if you love something you see, but feel you can't produce it, we can always make it for you! Fresh !
via rsvpshindig.livejournal.com

via attractivehomedesign.blogspot.com

via marthstewart.com






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What Is A Man Worth

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 –

I attended a cousin's burial, in line with my cultural teaching as well as moral responsibility. Above all, I was driven by the great love I have for this aunt, his mother. Working far from the village, I went home just a day to the burial. I felt the immense urge to offer my support as well as register my condolence and not merely present my face on the day of burial like many would have as their idea of supporting the bereaved. Being a humble family, nothing much was to be expected as far as a decent send off is concerned.

But even then, there are basics, the bare minimum expected from such a ceremony. A good example is the turn up as well as the general conduct of the congregation. This guy was divorced, worked odd jobs away from home and made good use of alcohol for his stomach. He did not have a relationship with his village as well as the villagers. He did not even have friends he could rely on. And as they say in my community, one buries himself (or herself as the case may be) while still alive! Even the church did a service for the left and not for the departed. In short, this guy did not have a good name and as such, people were more driven by the relatives and not the deceased.

Among many other responsibilities for each and every one of us is that of cutting our niche in the society where we live. This is usually easy when one has a bargaining chip like a good education or a big fortune. But what about the bigger percentage, the base of the pyramid? Does it mean that they can never be recognized, that their place in society is the back bench? Well it may look like so to many, but it is not really the measure with which one's worth is gauged upon. There are important milestones that every society recognizes and against which the worth of people living in it. Some of these include:

· Respect for family and society at large.
· Conformity especially on matters such as education, marriage etc.
· Contribution to the society.
· Presence and support in other people's activities.

While all societies are different, the value of a neighbour is never compromised. It is nothing that can be exchanged or bought with money. Respect cannot be asked for. When all is said and done, the extent of one's estate cannot soothe them when their backs are beaten and their feet baked in old age.

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Hoops of Color!

Monday, April 11, 2011 –



Sometimes....we just need an alternative to art work. I love beautiful pieces of art as much as the next person, but every now and then I find myself wanting something else! Today I stumbled on this craft project that I thought was a great idea. I know there's been many times where I've walked into a fabric store, and can find a fabric that I fell in love with, but don't have a clue what to do with, OR it's so expensive, that I can't buy a ton of yardage. Well....here is the perfect solution to small yardage creating high impact.


Materials that are needed:



  1. Embroidery hoops of any size

  2. Square of fabric at least 2" bigger than any embroidery hoop.

  3. Scissors

  4. Elmer's Glue

Instructions:



  1. Place fabric in hoop, pull taught.

  2. Turn to wrong side, run a line of glue on inside ring close to fabric

  3. Press fabric into glue all of the way around

  4. Allow glue to dry

  5. Cut excess fabric off































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We're going GLOBAL....well kind of, lol

It's been in the works for some time now, but it's official! We have an online store!!!!! There are a number of items on there now ranging between handmade burlap pillows as well as soaps, candles, and a few other items! You can visit the site here: http://shop.housebyjsd.com There is a clickable link off the regular website as well! Also available on our online store, you can order Gift Cards! They are available in $25, $50, and $100 (however, if you come into the store, you can get a gift card at any price!). Need a giftcard, but aren't going to have the chance to stop by the store and deliver it? No worries, we'll even mail the giftcard to your recipient! We try to make it as easy as possible! Make sure you visit the online store soon! We are planing on adding and changing items all of the time! It's only been up a few days, and believe it or not, we've already had orders from South Carolina, Arizona, Florida, and a few other states!

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